Celebrating Baptism: The Jordan River in the time of Jesus

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to
be baptized by John.” (Matt.3:3)

The Jordan River flows through the Jordan Rift Valley
into the Sea of the Galilee and then continues down into the Dead Sea with no
outlet. It is a place of many important biblical events. However, for most of Christians
the first association with the river would be the scene of Jesus Christ being
baptized by John the Baptist.

According to the Christian faith, the Jordan River is considered
the third most holy site in the Holy Land, just after Nativity Grotto in
Bethlehem and Golgotha in Jerusalem, because it is the site of the most important
event of Jesus’ life - His baptism and beginning of his ministry.

John the Baptist

It was John the Baptist who decided to baptize people in
the Jordan River. Many scholars think that he might have been influenced by the
Essens, who like John, were leading an ascetic life in the wilderness of Qumran or Ein Gedi. One of their principal religious rituals was a daily immersion tvilah in water mikvah to regain purity. Jordan river represented a perfect mikvah of continuously running water.

John is also commonly referred to be a precursor of
Jesus, and the Gospel of Matthew describes him as the person mentioned by
Isaiah in his prophecy: “A voice of one
calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths
for him.’” (Isaiah 40:3) John also announced that Christ - the Messiah is coming,
with the words: “I baptize you withwater for repentance. But after me
comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
He will baptize you withthe
Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matt. 3:11)

Jesus’ Baptism and
Its Meaning

Christ was baptized in the Jordan River by John the
Baptist. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At
that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom
I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17) This event marked the
beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

Baptism with water, practiced since the beginning of the
Church, represents admission into the Christian community and is essential for
salvation. "Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
Kingdom of God." (John 3:5) In Christianity, baptism is a sign of “repentance and forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4) and the beginning of the life in Christ within the Church. We are
baptized in the name God: “Father, and
the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19) As well, through baptism
Christians associate with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus: “And
this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you […] by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21)

Different Christian denominations have various baptismal practices.
Orthodox and Catholic Christians are receiving the sacrament when still infants.
The Catholic baptism is done by effusion, meaning pouring water over someone’s
head. However, according to the rituals of the Orthodox and some other Eastern
Churches, a baby would be completely submersed in water. Within the Anabaptist
(baptised again) and Baptist practices, a person would receive baptism as an
adult in order to understand the significance and be aware of accepting Christ
as a Saviour.

Site of Jesus’ Baptism - Qasr el Yahud

Qasr el Yahud, one of the most
important sites for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land,is identified as the traditional site
of Jesus’ baptism. The place is located in the wilderness of the Jordan River
Valley, north of the Dead Sea and east of Jericho. Remains of a Byzantine church
from the 4-5th century, still visible on the site, point to the
ancient tradition associate with this site.

To be baptized in the same place where Jesus was baptized,
is a uniquely spiritual moment for the Christian believer. Qasr el Yahud is
furnished with facilities required to assist visiting pilgrims and enhance
their experience. There are on site showers, facilities for prayer, wheelchair
access and improved car parking. Baptismal robes are available for purchase for
$10 (35 IL).

Baptism of the Lord Celebration

The Baptism of
the Lord Celebration is a feast commemorating the baptism of Jesus in
the Jordan River by the John the Baptist. In the Holy Land, this event takes
place at Qasr el Yahud.

According to the Catholic Church’s tradition, the holiday
is celebrated always on the first Sunday after the feast of Epiphany. This year
2013, Catholics will make a pilgrimage to the site on the 13th of
January and hold a mass in a chapel on the riverbank.

The 18th and 19th of January 2013
will mark the Feast of Theophany, which for the Eastern Churches denotes
Christ’s baptism and first revelation as the Son of God and the revelation of
the Holy Trinity.On the morning of the
18th of January a procession of Eastern Orthodox clergy and pilgrims
would follow down to the river bank, where the celebration will be held. The
Patriarch, by submerging the cross in the river will purify and consecrate its
water, which then shall be sprinkled on the crowds of faithful. In the
afternoon the Ethiopian Orthodox Church will celebrate the Baptism at the site.
On the morning of the 19th of January, the baptismal celebrations
will be held by the Coptic Orthodox and the Syrian Orthodox Churches.

Other Biblical Events Connected to Qasr el Yahud

There are other biblical events also associated with Qasr
el Yahud.Joshua, leading the Israelites
crossed there the Jordan River,and entered the Land of Canaan (Joshua 3).In additiona, Elijah the Propet ascended to heaven
on a fiery chariot (2 Kings 11) at the site of Qasr el Yahud.

How to get there: Qasr el Yahud is just north of the
Dead Sea. If driving from Jerusalem, take the highway #1 towards Jericho’s
bypass road, then turn north on the highway #90, drive approximately 2.5 km
(1.5 miles) until you reach a grove, and then turn east in the direction of a
sign saying Qasr al-Yahud. Currently, there is no public transportation
which goes exactly to the site. Hiring a taxi driver or a private tour could be
an option.

Opening hours:Qasr el Yahud is open daily from 8 am till 5 pm in
the summer and till 4 pm during the winter, except on Fridays from 8 am till 3
pm (summer) or till 2 pm (winter). There is no entry fee. Pilgrims are advised to call before
visiting on (02) 650-4844.

Yardenit

Many pilgrims come to the Holy Land especially to be
baptised in the Jordan River, thus the site of Yardenitwas established in 1981 as a result
of the closing of Qasr el Yahud which
occurred at the time due to the unstable political situation in the region.This picturesque baptismal site,
located south of the Jordan River's outlet from the Sea of Galilee, welcomes everyone who would like to walk in
the footsteps of Jesus and follow Jesus’s life by experiencing the baptismal waters.

'The Wall of New Life' is Yardenit’s special feature that
consists of panels in multiple languages that portray a verse from Mark describing
the baptism of Jesus. "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of
Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out ofwater,
immediately he saw theheavens
opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove,and a voice came from heaven;"Thou art my beloved Son, with thee I am
well pleased." (Mark 1:9-11) 'The Wall of New Life' is
dedicated to all who have received baptism at this place, and symbolizes the
beginning of their new life.

The site can
accommodate several groups of pilgrims at once and at the site’s gift shop one can
either rent or buy a white baptismal robe and a towel. In addition, there are
spacious change facilities with showers and toilets.

How to get there: If driving a car, follow
the signs leading to the Yardenit baptismal site along the road between
Tiberias city and the Tzemach junction to its east. If you are thinking to take
a public transportantion from Jerusalem, Egged bus #961, which continues to
Yardenit, leaves from Jerusalem Central Bus Station at 2:15 pm and 3:15 pm.
After 2 hours and 35 minutes on the way, go off at the bus stop next to Ezori
Beit Yerah School and then walk south around 250 meters.

You can visit Qasr El Yahud on the Saturday weekly tour from Jerusalem called Qasr el Yahud and West Bank tour. Priced at 355 shekel per person (around $90). Alternatively you can visit with a private guide (and combine many other area sites as well, including Mt. Temptations, Jericho, Qumran, and the Dead Sea.

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Beata Andonia works
for the Bethlehem tourist bureau and blogs regularly about Bethlehem for Travelujah-Holy Land Tours. She is
originally from Poland and moved to Bethlehem in 2010.